Top Speeds #6 - Monte Carlo

Top Speed Comparisons #6 - Monte Carlo

I posted these comparisons from 2006 to 2008 to illustrate changes in top speeds as measured through the speed traps.

The first table compares the 2008 team/driver combination with the equivalent 2009 team/driver - the same driver if possible, otherwise the 2008 driver is compared to his 2009 replacement. This comparison is intended as a team comparison, but the first (driver) table is also of some interest - but should be read with care.

Notes
Honda have been renamed Brawn-Mercedes and Force India have switched from Ferrari to Mercedes engines.

'S#' Session in which the top speed was recorded (P1/P2/P3/Q1/Q2/Q3/R)
'Diff' difference in top speed (km/hr)
'%Dif' difference in top speed (as percentage of 2008 speed)

Monaco GP 2008/2009

2008                                    2009
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Dif.
========================================================================
F India-[Ferrari] Fisichella Q1 283.5 Fisichella Q1 288.5 +5.0 +1.76
F India-[Ferrari] Sutil Q1 283.7 Sutil Q1 287.4 +3.7 +1.30
Ferrari Massa Q2 288.3 Massa R 290.0 +1.7 +0.59
Ferrari Räikkönen R 288.6 Räikkönen R 289.4 +0.8 +0.28
[Honda] Button Q1 284.5 Button R 284.8 +0.3 +0.11
[Honda]           Barrichello  Q1 284.6 Barrichello  R  284.5 -0.1 -0.04
Red Bull-Renault Coulthard Q1 287.2 Vettel Q1 285.7 -1.5 -0.52
Toyota Trulli Q2 285.4 Trulli Q1 283.6 -1.8 -0.63
McLaren-Mercedes Hamilton P2 291.2 Hamilton R 289.0 -2.2 -0.76
Williams-Toyota Rosberg Q1 286.1 Rosberg R 283.6 -2.5 -0.87
Williams-Toyota Nakajima R 286.9 Nakajima P3 284.2 -2.7 -0.94
Red Bull-Renault Webber Q1 287.8 Webber R 284.9 -2.9 -1.01
BMW Sauber-BMW Kubica Q3 288.6 Kubica Q1 285.4 -3.2 -1.11
T Rosso-Ferrari Bourdais Q1 288.4 Bourdais Q1 284.7 -3.7 -1.28
BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld Q1 288.7 Heidfeld R 284.9 -3.8 -1.32
McLaren-Mercedes Kovalainen Q1 291.4 Kovalainen Q1 287.3 -4.1 -1.41
Toyota Glock R 288.0 Glock R 283.6 -4.4 -1.53
Renault Alonso Q2 289.6 Alonso Q1 284.8 -4.8 -1.66
T Rosso-Ferrari Vettel R 289.4 Buemi Q1 284.3 -5.1 -1.76
Renault Piquet Q1 288.7 Piquet P3 282.9 -5.8 -2.01
Only five drivers improved compared to last year.


The second table compares the top speed achieved by each team (IE the top speed of both drivers), and as such is a better comparison.

2008                                    2009
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Diff.
========================================================================
F India-[Ferrari] Sutil Q1 283.7 Fisichella Q1 288.5 +4.8 +1.69
Ferrari Räikkönen R 288.6 Massa R 290.0 +1.4 +0.49
[Honda] Barrichello Q1 284.6 Button R 284.8 +0.2 +0.07
Red Bull-Renault  Webber      Q1 287.8  Vettel      Q1 285.7 -2.1  -0.73
McLaren-Mercedes Kovalainen Q1 291.4 Hamilton R 289.0 -2.4 -0.82
Williams-Toyota Nakajima R 286.9 Nakajima P3 284.2 -2.7 -0.94
BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld Q1 288.7 Kubica Q1 285.4 -3.3 -1.14
Toyota Glock R 288.0 Trulli Q1 283.6 -4.4 -1.53
T Rosso-Ferrari Vettel R 289.4 Bourdais Q1 284.7 -4.7 -1.62
Renault Alonso Q2 289.6 Alonso Q1 284.8 -4.8 -1.66
Only three teams improved.


Taking the positions from table 2 at each race (1 is most improved, 10 is least improved) and averaging them gives a season average position.

Team             R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6  Tot  Avg.
=================================================
1. F India-Mercedes 3 2 3 1 1 1 11 1.83
2. Brawn-Mercedes 2 6 5 4 2 3 22 3.67
3. Red Bull-Renault 5 1 2 7 5 4 24 4.00
4. BMW Sauber-BMW 1 5 9 6 8 7 36 6.00
5. Toyota 10 4 6 2 7 8 37 6.17
6. T Rosso-Ferrari 4 7 4 5 9 9 38 6.33
7. Renault 7 3 7 9 3 10 39 6.50
8. Ferrari 8 9 1 10 10 2 40 6.67
9. McLaren-Mercedes 9 10 10 3 4 5 41 6.83
10. Williams-Toyota 6 8 8 8 6 6 42 7.00
All data from http://www.fia.com.
 
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